The complete guide to how to title
your paintings.

This is a
subject that always has had me befuddled and perplexed as to how am I going to
title a painting. How can I convey to my viewer what the painting
is trying to communicate in just a few words?
It can be a daunting task for some of us, and we resort to the old
standby, "Untitled".

This, I have
found, is a complete turn off to your customer.
Most folks want a name!
Something to call this beautiful object you have created and they have wanted
to purchase, until they saw the title. And if you're posting your work on the
internet, well, "untitled" aien't gonna get ya very far when it comes
to search engine optimization (SEO).
Trying doing a search on "untitled" oil paintings and see how
close you get to finding yours!

The creative
process you used in making your art really needs to be extended into the
title. Why? Folks simply experience more from a piece of art
when it is correctly tied to an awesome
title. It can be a powerful
experience. Similar to the one I had
when I saw up close and personal a painting by Vangelis Andriotakis
called "Spanish Shawl". (read more about that in my about me page)

I've really
struggled with naming my art, and this last painting was no exception. Click on the image to get the name and a larger view.

Using the techniques below, I came up with a name that conveyed the
power behind the piece, and the first thing you think about when you see
it. I did use the "title your painting" guide to get me there. It is a large painting, 39" x 60", and has a huge impact when seen
within a room. While sitting and admiring these flowers during a photo
shoot for its reference material, I can remember the waves of blossoms
that where lying before me. Read on below how it's name was derived.

Title your painting guide

Being in
this position once again, I figured I needed a system or a guide that
would
help me in the future with just about any painting I develop and
produce. I wanted a check off list that I could go down and
systematically
come up with a solution that would work every time.

I quickly
found that there just isn't one.

So......,

I made one. Below you will find the ultimate guide on how to title your painting!

Lets first
look at the types of naming convections that are presently used and let's get
the easy ones out of the way first.

Factual, Abstract, Numerical, Mysterious, and Sentimental are commonly considered title
types.

Lets say
you've just completed an epic civil war battle scene with General Robert E Lee
and General Longstreet discussing battle plans at Gettysburg. The date and location would be at the
forefront of your title your painting ideas.

Battle for
bunker hill, Omaha beach, the killing of Lincoln, mans first step on the moon, the falling of the Berlin
Wall. You can always add a sentimental
or mysterious component to this type of title too.

Say you have
a work depicting the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. You could go with the sentimental & factual title, "letting freedom ring, Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation,"
If it's an epic piece, you really want
an epic title.

Abstract:

This is used
to express something that is appreciated in the intellectual, and mental
sense. An intangible expression
concerning or relating to the work. Here
are a few examples. Rumors, new world, metamorphous,
bravery, justice, poverty, abstruse, ancient mystery, modern mayhem, whispers,
joy, endless, beginnings, etc. etc. You
get the idea.

Numerical:

Most
abstracts can also use the numerical format in combination with the abstract
type of title, such as red #2, blue mood 687,
Joy 5678. It's a type also for
use in a series of paintings. Pears I,
Pears II, Pears III.

Below is Front line II. The first
sold quickly, and another customer wanted one just like it. So, Front
Line II was born. It is in reference to the front defensive line of a
football team. How I got that, who knows. I wish I had the Title your painting guide back then, football and daffodils? What was I thinking? The customers didn't mind however.

Now we get
to the Mysterious and Sentimental. For
me, a floral realist, this will be my nominal type of title. Sure, I use a mixture of the other types,
especially if it's an obvious choice, but mostly, these last two are where most
of my work will fall.

Mysterious :

Difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify.
Deliberately enigmatic.

So lets dig
a little deeper! Most journalist's and
writers will ask these questions before writing. "What, where, when, why and
how." Doesn't work for artwork.

But there
are a number of primer questions listed below that will help get you
started. If you've gone through the
first five types listed above, you're ready to take the next step by answering
these questions. Before we get to these final questions to ask yourself, a few
notes on the different types of paintings you may do, and the present naming
convections for each.

Portraits for instance, are usually titled by
the individuals name and sometimes a date, or occupation.

Still life work can be all over the place. With
careful thought into your arrangement so that it tells a story, is based on a
theme, or has some vanita's, symbolism, your job becomes easier in it's naming. When setting up your still life composition,
consider time, the season, or the mood you wish to convey. Again, this helps greatly in the final title
you decide.

Landscapes,
start with the location, and then incorporate again the time, season or
mood you wish to tell your viewer.

Abstracts, if it is truly abstract with no hints
of geometric forms, but truly non-objective in nature, your title may be the only thing to communicate to the viewer what your
painting is about, why you created it, or the concept or meaning you
attribute to the work. Choose carefully.

Oh, and don't forget, when printing the title in your
portfolio, or website, it needs to be
italicized.

Now it's time to get out your art journal, and jot down the
answers to these questions below.

Now to the title your painting guide list:

1. Take a long look at your work. What strikes you first? What are you trying
to show? Is there a hidden or mysterious meaning? A moral message? What is your
painting about?

5. Narrow your list from all you've written above to the most relevant to the piece in front of
you. This can be difficult, as you may
like the bright red strawberries, but the silverware just stands out a bit
more. Pretend you are the viewer and not
the painter for this.

6. Break out the Thesaurus and Synonyms finder and go through
it with these last few items on your list.
It may break open a very creative direction. Remember, mysterious and
sentimental here too.

7. Keep it short, leave room for the viewer to view the piece
and figure out the rest of it's meaning or intent. This little bit of mystery will add to the
viewers experience and make both the image and the title a memorable
event.